Improvement in spiral hay-forks



A. SHELLENB EBGER. Spiral Hay-Fork.

No. 166,152,. Patentedm zmsfa.

" .dttorneg} NPEIERS FHOTO-LITNOGRAPHER, WASHINGTON u. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

AMOS SHELLENBERGER, OF VERSAILLES, OHIO, ASSIGNOR OF TWO-THIRDS HIS RIGHT TO JOSEPH Z. LIZIEB, AND JOHN W. SINGER, OF SAME rLAcE.

IMPROVEMENT IN SPIRAL HAY-FORKS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 166,152, dated July 27, 1875; application filed April 16, 1875.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, AMos SHELLENBERGER, of Versailles, in the county of Darke and in the State of Ohio, have invented certain,

new and useful Improvements in Spiral Hay Forks; and do hereby declare that the following is full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawing and to the letters of reference marked thereon, making apart of this specification.

This invention relates to certainimprovements upon the invention set forth in the patent granted to me on the 14th day of June, 1870, No. 104,365, for improvements in hayforks, and it consists in a strong metallic frame, from which depend two parallel tines having a square section, and a spiral tine having a similar section, the spiral tine being attached to the lower end of a rod journaled in the frame, and capable of a vertical as well as a rotary movement, in combination with certain devices for locking and releasing the same to operate the fork, as will be more fully hereinafter set forth.

The drawing represents a front elevation of my improved fork.

The letter Arepresents a strongframe of iron with two dependent parallel tines, B B, square. 0 reprein section and pointed at the ends. sents the spiral tine, forming part of, or attached to, the lower end of the vertical rod or bar D, extending up through the crosspieces 60 Ct, which form part of the frame. Said spiral tine, is also square in section, and pointed similarly to the parallel tines. To the lower end of the rod D, just above the spiral tine, is attached a metallic disk, 67, provided with an annular ratchet upon its top, and about midway between the two ends of the same is formed a shoulder, the objects of which will be presently explained. 'E represents a pawl or dog, passing through an aperture in the lower cross-piece of the frame A, and secured by a pin passing through a slot the rod.

upon the upper cross-piece of the frame. Said lever extends upward, and is formed with a heel or catch,f, which holds the rod D when elevated by catching under the shoulder X on G represents a spring for throwing the lever toward the rod to automatically lock the bar D when it is elevated. The fork is secured to the elevating-rope by means of an eye, 9, at its upper end, and rope H is attached to the end of the lever F, by means of which it is operated.

The fork is operated by forcing it (lOWlb ward intothe hay, the spiral tine turning during the operation until the load is taken and the ratchet forced up against the dog or pawl. When the rod D is fully elevated the lever catches under the shoulder on said rod, and locks the same in position. The load may now be elevated, and when at the desired place is discharged by pulling on the rope H, releasing rod D, allowing the same to drop, and releasing the pawl from the ratchet. This allows'the spiral tine to rotate and release the load, which falls by its own weight.

Having fully described my invention, What I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patcut, is

In combination with the frame A and paralle tines B B and spiral tine O, the rod D, having a shoulder, X, and capable of a vertical as well as a rotary motion, substantially as and for the purposes herein set forth.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing I have hereunto set my hand this 22d day of March, 1875.

AMOS SHELLENBERGER.

Witnesses:

B. ENGELKEN, FRANoIs KUsNIcK. 

